BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//IHSS - ECPv6.17.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:IHSS X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ihss.hku.hk X-WR-CALDESC:Events for IHSS REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Asia/Hong_Kong BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0800 TZOFFSETTO:+0800 TZNAME:HKT DTSTART:20240101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261124T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261124T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20261028T013053Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261021T064819Z UID:110464-1795523400-1795527000@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:God or Government? An Explanation from (In)Compensable Climate Risks DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/god-or-government-an-explanation-from-incompensable-climate-risks/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/20261124_IRS_Ying-Bai_banner-1080.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261110T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261110T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20261020T073141Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T074736Z UID:110436-1794313800-1794317400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:By Mule and by River: Mapping Trade Hubs\, Caravan Routes\, and Lanten Yao Manuscript Circulation in the Upper Mekong Region\, 1890–1910 DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/by-mule-and-by-river-mapping-trade-hubs-caravan-routes-and-lanten-yao-manuscript-circulation-in-the-upper-mekong-region-1890-1910/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/20261110_IRS_Joseba-Estevez_banner-1080_v2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261103T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261103T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20261009T083539Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T094439Z UID:110328-1793709000-1793712600@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Interacting with Non-Han Peoples on the Frontiers of China’s Western Han Empire\, c. 177-124 BCE DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/interacting-with-non-han-peoples-on-the-frontiers-of-chinas-western-han-empire-c-177-124-bce/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/20261103_IRS_Chun-Fung-Tong_banner-1080.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261027T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261027T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20261006T062907Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261006T063724Z UID:110263-1793104200-1793107800@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:From Creating “Market” to Creating “Stability”: The Infrastructuralization of Solar Power Stations in Northwest China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/from-creating-market-to-creating-stability-the-infrastructuralization-of-solar-power-stations-in-northwest-china/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/20261027_IRS_Yijun-Gai_banner-1080.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261013T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20261013T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260921T013007Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261013T035249Z UID:110229-1791894600-1791898200@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Distance to Bacon: The Search for the Culture of Growth in Historical China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/distance-to-bacon-the-search-for-the-culture-of-growth-in-historical-china/ LOCATION:[Venue Changed] 201\, May Hall CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20251028_IRS_ChiCheng-Ma_banner-1080_no-zoom.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260929T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260929T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260907T042208Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261006T063801Z UID:110106-1790685000-1790688600@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Belief\, Ritual\, and Efficacy: A Cognitive Analysis of Rain Magic in Late Qing and Early Republican China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/belief-ritual-and-efficacy-a-cognitive-analysis-of-rain-magic-in-late-qing-and-early-republican-china/ LOCATION:G12\, May Hall or via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260929_IRS_Kevin-Ze-Hong_banner-1080.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260922T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260922T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260827T100907Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261006T063824Z UID:110021-1790080200-1790083800@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Reading Violence in the Bones: Bioarchaeological Perspectives on Skeletal Trauma and Socio-Environmental Change in Past Societies DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/reading-violence-in-the-bones-bioarchaeological-perspectives-on-skeletal-trauma-and-socio-environmental-change-in-past-societies/ LOCATION:G12\, May Hall or via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260922_IRS_Doudou-Cao_banner-1080_20260825.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260505T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260505T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260419T081020Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260419T081020Z UID:106658-1777984200-1777987800@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Local Lore of a Sacred Landscape: The Daoist Tradition of Peach Blossom Spring DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/local-lore-of-a-sacred-landscape-the-daoist-tradition-of-peach-blossom-spring/ LOCATION:Lecture Hall\, G/F\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom\, Hong Kong CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260505_IRS_Mark-Meulenbeld_banner-1080.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260421T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260421T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260330T020924Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260419T081255Z UID:105923-1776774600-1776778200@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Recasting the National Fengshui Master: Local Knowledge\, Textual Authority\, and Centralized Order in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/recasting-the-national-fengshui-master-local-knowledge-textual-authority-and-centralized-order-in-the-ming-dynasty-1368-1644/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-80.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260224T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260224T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260210T011219Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102951Z UID:96418-1771936200-1771939800@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:The Guomindang Doctrine Against Capitalism and the Original Intent Behind the 1929 Company Law DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/the-guomindang-doctrine-against-capitalism-and-the-original-intent-behind-the-1929-company-law/ LOCATION:Rm 201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong (Map)\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260224_IRS_Billy-So-with-Sufumi-So_banner-1080.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260210T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260210T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260210T010602Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102951Z UID:96393-1770726600-1770730200@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:The Pain and Pleasures of Writing the Biography of Mr Ho Amei (何崑山) (1838-1901)\, Pioneer Entrepreneur DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/the-pain-and-pleasures-of-writing-the-biography-of-mr-ho-amei-%e4%bd%95%e5%b4%91%e5%b1%b1-1838-1901-pioneer-entrepreneur/ LOCATION:Rm 201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong (Map)\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260210_IRS_Elizabeth-Sinn_banner-1080.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260203T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260203T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260209T233013Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102950Z UID:96277-1770121800-1770125400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Hong Kong Dollar: Mediating China’s Participation in Global Capitalism since the Nineteenth Century DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/hong-kong-dollar-mediating-chinas-participation-in-global-capitalism-since-the-nineteenth-century/ LOCATION:Rm 201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong (Map)\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260203_IRS_John-Wong_banner-1080-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260127T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260127T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260227T101220Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102952Z UID:97839-1769517000-1769520600@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Knowledge for Lineage: Queen\, Keju and Social Mobility in Tang China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/knowledge-for-lineage-queen-keju-and-social-mobility-in-tang-china/ LOCATION:Rm 201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong (Map)\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-3.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251205T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251205T140000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T085435Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102953Z UID:97905-1764937800-1764943200@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Studying Elite Politics through Conversation Networks: Elite Conflicts and the Making of the Chinese Reform DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/studying-elite-politics-through-conversation-networks-elite-conflicts-and-the-making-of-the-chinese-reform/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-12.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251125T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251125T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T095327Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102954Z UID:97929-1764073800-1764077400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Survival of the Strongest: How Iron Technology Led to the Founding of the First Unified Chinese Empire in 221 BCE DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/survival-of-the-strongest-how-iron-technology-led-to-the-founding-of-the-first-unified-chinese-empire-in-221-bce/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-18.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251118T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251118T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T100513Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102954Z UID:97940-1763469000-1763472600@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Cooking the Barbarians\, Conquering the Forest: Lanten Yao Spiritual Warfare at the Margins of Chinese and Tai Polities DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/cooking-the-barbarians-conquering-the-forest-lanten-yao-spiritual-warfare-at-the-margins-of-chinese-and-tai-polities/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-21.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251111T110000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251111T120000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T103425Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102955Z UID:97963-1762858800-1762862400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Religion\, Secularism\, and Love as a Political Discourse in Modern China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/religion-secularism-and-love-as-a-political-discourse-in-modern-china/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-28.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251104T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251104T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T123226Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102955Z UID:97975-1762259400-1762263000@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:“Middle Women Rising (zhongnü jueqi)”: Framing Gendered Spiritual Empowerment in Contemporary China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/middle-women-rising-zhongnu-jueqi-framing-gendered-spiritual-empowerment-in-contemporary-china/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-32.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251028T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251028T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T123747Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102955Z UID:97981-1761654600-1761658200@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:The Curse of Lu Ban: Rumors of Carpenter Sorcery\, 1350–Present DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/the-curse-of-lu-ban-rumors-of-carpenter-sorcery-1350-present/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-34.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251021T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20251021T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T130646Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102956Z UID:97999-1761049800-1761053400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Writing Christianity into Chinese History: Archaeology\, Economic History\, and Political Ideology DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/writing-christianity-into-chinese-history-archaeology-economic-history-and-political-ideology/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-40.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250930T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250930T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T134732Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102957Z UID:98015-1759235400-1759239000@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Marketing Africa: Production of Knowledge about Africa by Businesspeople on Chinese Short-Video Platforms DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/marketing-africa-production-of-knowledge-about-africa-by-businesspeople-on-chinese-short-video-platforms/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-44.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250909T113000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250909T123000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260228T142501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102958Z UID:98033-1757417400-1757421000@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:The Emergence of Logistics Networks and Financial Administration during the Qin Conquest (230–221 BCE) DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/the-emergence-of-logistics-networks-and-financial-administration-during-the-qin-conquest-230-221-bce/ LOCATION:201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-50.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250630T163000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250630T180000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20260302T041006Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102958Z UID:98087-1751301000-1751306400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Women As Vernacular Knowers In China’s Long Republic (1894-1954): What We Can Learn From Cheap Print DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/women-as-vernacular-knowers-in-chinas-long-republic-1894-1954-what-we-can-learn-from-cheap-print/ LOCATION:Room 201\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, Hong Kong CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-9.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250325T090000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250325T100000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20250103T002524Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102948Z UID:91040-1742893200-1742896800@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series Spring Semester 2025 DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/interdisciplinary-research-seminar-series-spring-semester-2025/ LOCATION:May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IRS-Spring-Semester-2025_Poster-scaled-1-e1737014218477.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250311T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250311T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20250209T185616Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102949Z UID:91405-1741696200-1741699800@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Rediscovering Ni Kwei Tseng and the Rise of the 'Soong Dynasty' in the Republican Era DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/interdisciplinary-research-20250311/ LOCATION:Lecture Hall\, G/F\, May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong\, or Via Zoom\, Hong Kong CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250311_IRS_Annie-Hongping-Nie_website-event-page-banner.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20241210T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20241210T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20241129T194354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102947Z UID:90907-1733833800-1733837400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Negotiating Legal Belonging on the Edges of Empire: Experiences of British Nationality Law in Twentieth-Century China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/making-maos-steelworks-industrial-manchuria-and-the-transnational-origins-of-chinese-socialism-2/ LOCATION:Zoom\, Hong Kong CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241210_IRS_Catherine-Ladds_banner-615.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20241112T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20241112T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20241024T203517Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102944Z UID:89927-1731414600-1731418200@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:A Context of Interconnectedness: The First China War (1840–1842) and the British Empire in Asia DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/a-context-of-interconnectedness-the-first-china-war-1840-1842-and-the-british-empire-in-asia/ LOCATION:Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241112_IRS_Gary-Chi-hung-Luk_Poster-1920.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20241008T160000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20241008T170000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20241027T192216Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102946Z UID:90282-1728403200-1728406800@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:As Gods Among Men: A History of the Rich in the West DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/as-gods-among-men-a-history-of-the-rich-in-the-west/ LOCATION:Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20240910_IRS_Guido-Alfani_banner-615_new.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20240910T090000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20240910T100000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20241024T235614Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T102945Z UID:89977-1725958800-1725962400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Laws of the Land: Fengshui and the State in Qing Dynasty China DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/laws-of-the-land-fengshui-and-the-state-in-qing-dynasty-china/ LOCATION:Via Zoom CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Rolling-banner_Tristan-Brown-615.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20240618T123000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20240618T133000 DTSTAMP:20261101T153734 CREATED:20240601T080117Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T103219Z UID:77671-1718713800-1718717400@ihss.hku.hk SUMMARY:Diaspora: Self-portrait of a Sogdian Commercial Troupe along the Silk Road DESCRIPTION:Table of Contents \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Abstract \n \n \n \n God and government are fundamental sources of order in human societies\, yet people differ across societies in where they place their faith between the two. We argue that these enduring differences can be partly traced to the types of climate risk faced by ancestral communities. When people confronted incompensable risk such as temperature fluctuations\, they turned to religion for psychological solace. In contrast\, compensable risk like rainfall instability could be managed through irrigation and other collective endeavors and fostered lasting confidence in public institutions. We test this hypothesis using multiple sources of data and find robust patterns both across countries and across ethnic groups within countries. We also place our hypothesis in dialogue with existing research by examining how it relates to alternative accounts of the historical origins of culture and institutions. \n \n \n \n About the Speaker \n \n \n \n Professor Bai is the Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History and a Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKU\, he taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong\, where he served as a Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the CUHK-UCSD Joint Laboratory on Chinese Economy. He earned his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include development economics\, economic history\, and the political economy of China. He employs cutting-edge statistical techniques and novel datasets to address historically significant issues in China’s development\, such as the causes and consequences of conflict\, the impact of the West (particularly Protestantism) on modern economic growth\, and the political and economic implications of China’s key institutions—the imperial civil examination system and the hierarchical administrative system. Much of his research has been published in prestigious journals\, including The Quarterly Journal of Economics\, Econometrica\, The Review of Economics and Statistics\, The Economic Journal\, International Economic Review\, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. His work has been recognized with the 2018 Distinguished CESifo Research Affiliate Award and the 2021 Masahiko Aoki Award. Additionally\, in 2018\, he received the CUHK Young Researcher Award. \n \n \n \n About the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar \n \n \n \n This series aims to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge research in various disciplines and areas. If you have any questions about this seminar or would be interested in giving a talk\, please contact Professor Chun Fung Tong (tong.chunfung@hku.hk). URL:https://ihss.hku.hk/events/diaspora-self-portrait-of-a-sogdian-commercial-troupe-along-the-silk-road/ LOCATION:May Hall\, The University of Hong Kong CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ihss.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/evenr3.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR